Big Pasta Podcast

Welcome back, Nora and Tessa. Where the hell have you been? In this episode, we tell you alllll about it. We celebrate Enoteca Maria, and we interview our beloved grandmas. All hail Strega Nonna! Bon Appetit!

ACTUALLY ITS EPISODE 30! Can you even believe it? Pop the champagne…and we do, with our amazing guest Alison Haas, who in our mind is in charge of wine for the whole world. In our first non-recipe ep, we explore luxury. Also discussed: pairings! Learning! Mac and cheese! Bon appétit! 

Nora and Tessa were joined by an old friend today! Namely the one and only Nia Ashley, filmmaker and writer extraordinaire. And we made RISOTTO!!!! A leap, but a delicious one. Also discussed: Mean Girls! Lorde! Travel! Bon appétit! 

This one's for the man with the biggest pasta energy…our love, our guiding light, our chef…Stanley Tucci. No, he's not a guest (yet). This is a classic Nora and Tessa gab fest, with topics including Big Night, Lentils, and as usual, following passions. Also discussed! Stanley Tucci! Waldorf Salad! Our upcoming film! Bon Appétit! 

There were a lot of possible titles for this ep, where Nora and Tessa (now on matching sweaters) are joined by the talented, generous filmmaker and foodie, Kevin Yu. On the table: Zha Jiang Mian (Beijing Fried Sauce Noodles), connections between food, art, family and diasporic memory, and the beginnings of a larger conversation about Tampopo (watch it!). Also discussed: daylight savings! Perfume campaigns! Cleavers! Bon Appétit! Kevin's website:  www.kevinxianmingyu.com

In this jam-packed episode, Nora and Tessa are joined in their chairs by Nora's friend Julian Plovnick, a brilliant foodie, to discuss walnut pasta, Top Chef, and the culinary industry as a whole! Also discussed: lies! Dreams! And the topic of the moment…newsletters! Bon Appétit! 

Hello out there!  After a vaguely defined break…we're back! Talking comebacks and glow ups and ratatouille. Also this week, Nora and Tessa make kugel (FINALLY) and interview their wonderful collaborator Olivia Zisman, about art and food and our shared Judaism. Also discussed: Twizzlers!! Seder! And Just Like That! Bon Appétit! Check out Olivia Zisman's art @studio__gogo or oliviazisman.com 

Call this one our mid season finale, cuz we're on hiatus until Jan! This week, Nora and Tessa are talking Dan Pashman's Cascatelli. They get into their various sauces, as well as sauceability and timing. It's all very technical, isn't it? Also discussed: talent shows! 3 year goals! Big Pasta Moments! Bon Appétit! 

In this episode, Nora and Tessa and Nat delve into Nora's famed dish: pasta and peas and soy sauce and cheese! They discuss shame and comfort, and Instagram therapists. Also covered: pre school! Arugula! Maybe we hear from some other friends too! Bon appétit! 

What's that old saying? “Gorgeous gorgeous girls love soup?” Then call us Miss America because this week Nora and Tessa are talking Pasta e Fagiole. Nora also forces Tessa to define herself with a quiz, they enjoy their mutual love of Abba and potentially start a lot of drama. Also discussed: Steve from Blues Clues! Ordering for the table! Monologues! Bon appétit! 

In honor of pasta month; here's the episode you've ALL been waiting for. Nora, Tessa and a special guest get comfy and talk everything spaghetti. They rank the top 20 moments of spaghetti in culture and EVERYONE learns something. Also discussed: cargo shorts! Spooky pasta! Spiralizers! Bon appétit! 

WELCOME TO PASTA MONTH! In this episode, Tessa and Nora talk harvesting. They celebrate the bounty of the earth that is pasta, and also dip into an essential topic: sports. Questions come up, arguments are had, and ultimately? They talk ravioli all over again. Other topics include: pasta dough! Serial killers! Farming tools! Bon appétit! 

In this episode, Nora and Tessa interview the awesome Sisters Snacking (@sistersnacking). They talk siblings, NYC's best noodle spots, and most importantly discuss a true queen of the sauce world: vodka sauce. Other topics include: Cheaper By the Dozen! Leftovers! Noodle duos! Bon appétit! 

This week, Nora and Tessa talked about getting through. Eating pasta in a rainstorm, how to love being in the kitchen in a strange time. They talked tankinis, and most importantly they talked mushroom pasta! Also covered: the devil's pasta! Cool uncles!  Slurpability! Big goals! Bon appétit!

PUT YOUR LIFE JACKETS ON, WE'RE GETTING ON THE PASTA BOAT! In this episode, Nora and Tessa interview the wonderful Rossella, founder of The Pasta Magazine. They talk pasta advice, starting a new business, and the soul of garlic. Other topics include: trustworthiness! Vogue Covers! Bullying! Bon appétit! 

WELCOME TO SEASON 2! In this episode, Nora and Tessa finally experience the JOY of recording together, and in a cabin in Vermont no less! They celebrate the beginning of a new season, explore their favorite pastas, and discuss a Barlow family classic: chickpea pasta. Other topics include: Goals! Camp counselors! And of course, rigatoni! Yay, we're back! Bon appétit! 

In this season 1 finale, Tessa and Nora take a trip (a real one!) to Beacon NY in search of the elusive pasta salad. Why Beacon, you ask? Who knows. They describe their journey, they talk Mayo, they talk this season and what they've learned/loved. Other topics include: flying! Mermaids! 

This week, Nora and Tessa take a deep dive into their own hearts — and the heart of the nation — with an episode dedicated to Annie's Mac and Cheese. They talk all about the surprise drama and history of the iconic dish, and get into some *alternative* preparations. Other topics include: Allergies! School lunch! Babysitting snacks! Bon Appétit! 

This week, Nora and Tessa find themselves. They also find themselves discussing Puttanesca, a surprising and delicious dish that has *maybe* changed the game for them. They talk food literature, the “emotionality of the mundane,” and wedding bands. Other topics include: impending photo shoots! Smashing tomatoes! Reading on the toilet! Bon Appétit! 

This week, Nora and Tessa are absolutely BUZZING about one of their favorite dishes to date: Cacio e Pepe! They get into the pasta’s history and a little into Italy’s history as well; they talk spaghetti, they talk pecorino. Other topics include: shopping! Shepherds! salt! Bon Appétit! 

This week, Tessa and Nora get elemental and talk about one of the simplest, sweetest dishes in the history of pasta: Spaghetti Pomodoro. Other topics include: late night snacks! STEM! Audrey Hepburn! Bon Appétit! 

This week, Tessa and Nora talk magic. MOVIE MAGIC, that is! They go through some of their favorite movie/food moments, and then discuss the not-so-simple but oh-so-beautiful Aglio e Olio. Other topics include: Being haunted! Elbow Pasta! School projects! Bon Appétit!

This week, Tessa and Nora catch each other off guard. They talk pillow-foods, German TV, and of course — ravioli! Oh yeah, and The Oscars! Bon Appétit! 

This week, Tessa and Nora welcome spring into their hearts and bellies with Pasta Primavera. Other topics include: bangs! Open air markets! And oysters. Bon appétit! 

This week, Tessa and Nora swim into the great green lagoon of Pesto. Tessa goes for the garlic and Nora reclaims the Cuisinart. Other topics include: the eldest pastas! A Wrinkle In Time! Clawfoot Bathtubs! Bon appétit! 

This week, Tessa and Nora delve into all things Lasagne. Tessa reads aloud from Samin Nosrat and Nora doesn’t know what recipe she’s using! Other topics include: sexy pasta! Inventions! Olives! Bon appétit! 

This week, Tessa and Nora once again find themselves in their chairs to talk BIG PASTA. And by Big Pasta, they mean Mac and cheese: it’s history, their memories, roux. Other topics include: spaghetti! Jack Black! And introducing, Big Pasta Energy! Bon appétit! 

This week, Tessa and Nora once again find themselves in their chairs discussing team sports. Oh yeah, and pasta — Big Pasta! Other topics include more Tiktok trends! Family recipes! And once again...Mamma Mia. Bon appétit! 

Episode 3: This week, Tessa and Nora once again find themselves in their chairs to discuss an undisputed queen of pasta dishes: the carbonara. Other topics include lasagne vs rigatoni! Staff meals! And finally...Strega Nona comes to the table. Bon appétit! 

Episode Caption: This week Nora and Tessa meet from their chairs in Brooklyn and Queens respectively, to finally discuss one of the more ~*controversial*~ pasta preparations: the one pot pasta. Other topics include linguine vs. shells! Tiktok trends! Evolution! Margot Robbie! Bon appetit!Music by Ian McNallyArt by Jane ZismanIG: @bigpastapodcast

Episode 1: Welcome to The Big Pasta Podcast! This week Nora and Tessa meet from their chairs in Brooklyn and Queens respectively, to finally begin the journey that is understanding Big Pasta. Topics covered include fettuccine vs bowtie pasta, buckets, the true definition of Big Pasta, and this week’s pasta challenge...fettuccine from scratch! Music by Ian McNallyArt by Jane ZismanIG: @bigpastapodcast